Wayland Baptist opened a four-game series against NCAA Division II Adams State (Colo.) by picking up a pair of close victories, topping the Grizzlies on a chilly afternoon at Wilder Field, 1-0 and 8-6.
In the fast-paced, 90-minute opener, with temperatures right around freezing, WBU ace
Tanner Solomon (2-0) tossed a six-hit shutout, striking out six and walking none. Solomon faced the minimum batters through 4 2/3 innings, in part thanks to catcher
Jake Green throwing out two potential base stealers.
The Grizzlies' biggest threat came in the seventh, getting a lead-off single then a two-out single before a putout at second secured the shutout.
Wayland (10-3) scored the game's lone run in the fifth.
Cesar Lopez led off with a bunt single to the pitcher then reached third on a stolen base and throwing error.
Mark Anzaldua plated him with a one-out sacrifice fly to center.
The Pioneers' only other hit was a single up the middle by
Tyler Latham to lead off the sixth. Latham later was retired as part of a double-play.
It was the third shutout of the season for Wayland.
Runs, and errors, were more plentiful in game 2.
The Grizzlies took a 2-1 lead in the first. In the third, Wayland broke out with four runs fueled by back-to-back-to-back singles to start the frame by
Hayden Ingram,
Arturo Disla and Green.
William Flowers smacked a two-RBI triple down the right-field line before
Dawin Santos provided WBU's fifth straight hit, an RBI single.
Those five hits were more than half of WBU's total of nine.
The Grizzlies (2-6) answered in their next at-bat, scoring three in the fourth on just one hit but four WBU errors. The tie didn't last long as Disla delivered his third hit, homering down the right-field line to open the fourth.
But the Grizzlies came right back in the fifth to tie it at 5, and it stayed knotted until the bottom of the sixth. Ingram slapped a one-out double, then after clean-up designated hitter Green was issued a two-out intentional walk, the Pioneers plated two on a double-steal and throwing error.
Chase Jones picked up the win in relief of
Ty Jackson. After Jackson tossed the first five, allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits with five strikeouts, Jones finished it with two no-hit innings, striking out one and walking one.
Disla provided a third of WBU's nine hits, helping the Pioneers overcome six errors.
The teams meet for two more games beginning at noon Saturday.
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